Four Lakes Loop in the Trinity Alps, California - Eileen's Travel and Mountain Adventures

After a quick trip to Florida to see Derek, we headed off to California to start an 18 day road trip through Southwest.

Brooke, Jim, and I started planning our road trip before Brooke even left Australia. What we hadn’t planned on was the California wild fires which returned to full force after 80 mph winds last Sunday.

Our original plan was to do a 5 day backpacking trip in the High Sierras and climb Mt Whitney. Then all the trails in the area closed. So Jim and I spend the day before our flight trying to figure out where to go. Hopefully someplace with little to no smoke. Jim found the Trinity Alps in Northern California.

We were so surprised to see the craggy peaks and grassy meadows.

After several hours of gradually climbing Long Canyon, we came to Deer Creek Pass and our first of the four lakes.

Looking down on Deer Lake with Siligo Peak from Deer Creek Pass

We arrived Siligo Pass above Summit Lake by 4pm. Brooke headed down to the lake for an afternoon swim. Yes, it was warm enough to swim in the alpine lakes. Jim and I opted to hike up Siligo Peak.

From the summit of Siligo Peak, Jim and I could see Mt Shasta in the distance.

Summit Lake was below

Jim on the Summit of Siligo Peak with Summit Lake in the distance

And the White Trinity Alps

Jim and I arrived Summit Lake to find that Brooke was already done swimming. She said the lake was brutally cold. It didn’t stop Jim and I from cleaning up in the lake. It is not often we get to camp with time to clean up.

We were able to camp lake side and still view the sunset.

We took our time getting out of camp in the morning. Brooke and Jim wanted to hike to the summit of Siligo Peak since Brooke didn’t do it yesterday. I took the opportunity to hike on to Diamond Lake and chill in my camp chair.

The White Alps were beautiful in the distance.

Brooke and Jim arrived an hour later. We chilled by the lake taking in the views and enjoying an early lunch.

After lunch, we headed over our 4th pass of the trip. Next up was Luella Lake.

Luella Lake was not very appealing from a distance but when we arrived the shoreline Jim and Brooke decided to go swimming.

Luella Lake was so much smaller than Summit Lake, it must be warmer. I assumed by the screams that followed Jim and Brooke jumping in that it was not.

Even with the cold temps, Brooke was able to stay in the lake for a good 10 minutes. I have no idea how she does it. I can’t even get in past my knees.

After Luella Lake, the trail dropped down into the meadows and then up to Deer Lake. We arrived in time to enjoy the afternoon sun on the lake shore.

Jim at Deer Lake with Siligo Peak in the Background

Before long, we were back up at Deer Creek Pass having completed the circumnavigation of Siligo Peak.

As we hiked back over toward Long Canyon, we were all in awe of Gibson Peak.

We made camp at the base of the head wall in Long Canyon and enjoyed the evening light. Somehow we had avoided the smoke.

We woke to the sun blaring through the walls of the tent.

The fall grasses were lite up by the orange light. Some smoke adds to a photo.

It was a short 2 hour hike to the car. After sorting through gear, we headed south. Hopefully, the smoke in Yosemite had settled. Either way, we were off to the Sierras in a couple of days. But first, we were stopping at Cousin Chrissy’s for a much needed visit.

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